Are they?

Or is it just a different framework, one where they matter and the rest of us are "Human Resources"?

I wish it were the former. We could relatively easily defeat that.

But while the actions they take in public are clearly the acts of deranged madmen, the machinations are mostly theater.

This hubris, that we will all remain divided against each other, will not hold forever. But it's really their only major weakness.

All in all, I'd prefer my opponents to be stupid, rather than predatory and intelligent.